Cancer survival rates improving with better treatment, early diagnosis

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

ROCHESTER, Minn. — No doubt, a cancer diagnosis is frightening. But consider this: the number of cancer survivors continues to grow, thanks to improved treatments, new treatments and earlier diagnosis.

More than 10 million Americans with a history of cancer were alive in January 2002, the most recent survivor figures available. Here's another statistic: one in every six people over age 65 has survived cancer.

The November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers some of the changes in the cancer survival landscape:

Overall cancer survivor rates: For cancers diagnosed from 1974 to 1976, the five-year survival rate was 50 percent. Between 1995 and 2001, the latest five-year survival rate data, the survival rate was 65 percent.

Breast cancer: Between 1990 and 2004, breast cancer deaths declined 2.3 percent each year. In the 1950s, the five-year survival rate for cancer that hadn't spread was 80 percent. Now that rate is at 98 percent.

Prostate cancer: Five-year survival rates have improved in the last 20 years from 67 percent to nearly 100 percent for all stages of prostate cancer combined.

Colorectal cancer: Over the past 20 years, mortality rates have been declining an average of 1.8 percent a year for both men and women. Early detection of colorectal cancer is associated with a five-year survival rate of 90 percent. Unfortunately, only about one-third of colorectal cancers are diagnosed before the cancer has spread. Despite the proven benefits of screening after age 50, some people forgo screening.

Lung cancer: This is still the most common cancer-related cause of death in both men and women. Surgical and postoperative therapies have improved one-year survival rates from 37 percent in 1975 to 42 percent between 1999 and 2001. Lung cancer remains challenging to treat.

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,700 physicians, scientists and researchers and 50,100 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, Minn; Jacksonville, Fla; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. and community based providers in more than 70 locations in Southern Minn., Western Wis. and Northeast Iowa. These locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education, visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.